title: Secondary health conditions in persons with spinal cord injury: a longitudinal study from one to five years post-discharge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the occurrence of secondary health conditions and their potential risk factors in persons with spinal cord injury from 1 to 5 years after discharge from initial inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentre longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 139 wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The occurrence of secondary health conditions and their potential risk factors were assessed in a clinical interview with a rehabilitation physician at 1 and 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and by a telephone interview 2 years after discharge. Self-report questionnaires were used for the assessment of musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuropathic pain (83.7-92.1%), musculoskeletal pain (62.3-87.1%) and urinary tract infection (56.5-58.9%) were the most frequently reported secondary health conditions. The occurrence of several secondary health conditions was higher among women and individuals with a complete lesion, tetraplegia, and with a higher body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secondary health conditions are common in the first years post-discharge following spinal cord injury, and their course seems to be relatively stable. These results emphasize the number of health issues that must be considered during post-injury care of persons with spinal cord injury living in the community, and the importance of a well-coordinated interdisciplinary approach from specialized rehabilitation centres.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, 3583 TM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacinthe J E
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Adriaansen
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Floris W A
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van Asbeck
authors.forename: Janneke M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stolwijk-Swüste
authors.forename: Marga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D014910:Wheelchairs